Information Technology

Internship
Information and Technology

I.T education forms the most fundamental faculty one should have even before seeking for a job. If you have regular access to a computer you are among a small percentage of the world’s population who are fortunate – so use this opportunity to share your skills! You will be amazed just how much you know and can pass on to an organization, a community or a training center!

You will work directly with management, other staff or teach students in an I.T training school. Internships are unpaid but maybe done for academic credit or on a volunteer basis. A candidate must be an undergraduate student, a graduate student or have graduated from college. Interns are expected to work between 15-20 hours a week, excluding weekends.

Why the project needs interns/volunteers:
With your extensive skills and knowledge in computing and experience of the Western technology, you will be able to bring unique skills and a fresh perspective to organizations, institutions or students. In exchange, you will gain a valuable insight into Ghana’s culture and will have the opportunity to improve your skills in a variety ways.

Knowledge of MS Office products, Internet navigation; ability to organize administrative projects; demonstrate clear and effective written and verbal communication skills; ability to meet deadlines and maintain a flexible schedule; strong diplomatic skills in dealing with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds; awareness and sensitivity to a variety of cultural perspectives are required.

The applicant should be comfortable teaching or developing students and have knowledge of at least one or more of the following applications. MS Office Suite, Dream Weaver, Joomla, Flash, Photo shop, SQL etc.

Accra

Country Info

Welcome to the Land of Sunshine, also reffered to as an ‘Island of Peace’. Ghana is one of the thriving democracies in Africa, inhabited by the world’s friendliest people.

Ghana, the gateway to Africa is situated right in the heart of West Africa . Its borders extend from the Gulf of Guinea covering a distance of about 672km from the south to the north, and about 540 km from the east to the west.

The country is bordered to the north by Burkina Faso , the east by Togo, the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by Cote d’Ivoire.

A narrow grassy plain stretches inland from the coast, widening in the east, while the south and west are covered by dense rainforest. To the north are forested hills, beyond which is dry savannah and open woodland. In the far north is a plateau averaging 500m (1600ft) in height. In the east the Akuapim hills run inland from the coast along the Togo border. The Black and White Volta rivers enter Ghana from Burkina Faso , merging into the largest manmade lake in the world, Lake Volta. Ghana ‘s coastline is dotted with sandy palm-fringed beaches and lagoons.

Ghana experiences two major seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. There are two main seasons of rainfall in the south starting from April to June and the minor rains from September to October. The northern region experiences a single rainy season from June to October. There is a dry season from November to April.

CLIMATE: Ghana has a tropical climate, hottest months March, April, 23-31ºC and the coldest month, August 22-27 ºC. There are relatively long dry season from mid October to March. Driest month January has a maximum rainfall of 15mm. There are two rainy seasons, from March to July and from September to October, wettest month, June has 178mm average rainfall.

VEGETATION: Ghana ‘s vegetation can be classified into three zones (a) coastal savannah, tropical rain forest in the central part and the guinea savannah in the north. FAUNA & FLORA: The warm sun, the regular rains and the fertile soils join together to give exuberant vegetation. As a result, dense tropical rain forests have over the years being conserved and developed into game reserves and theme parks.

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST: Ghana used to share a virgin forest of about 85,000km², which has reduced to about 40,000km² due economic and human developmental activities. It is only in the extreme southwest with its wet climate that is left intact. Our deciduous and semi deciduous forests offer both economic and medicinal uses. THE SAVANNAH: The savannah, which is the main vegetation in the northern and certain parts of the south, is endowed with birds that are suitable for bird watching and other mammals.

PEOPLE: The Ghanaian hospitality is legendary. In this peaceful and loving country, all visitors are received warmly and sincerely regardless of race, religion, nationality or sex. Ghanaians are often referred to as ‘ Africa ‘s Friendliest People’.

POPULATION: Ghana has a population of about 19 million based on March 2000 population census. It is made up of 75 ethnic groups who speak 46 languages and dialects.

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM: Ghana ‘s policy of liberalization has been extended to private sector participation in education. The country’s literacy rate is about 50%. The educational system provides nine years of Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, FCUBE, which is followed by a 3 year secondary / technical/ commercial and vocational education. The tertiary level consists of teacher training colleges, Diploma and degree awarding institutions. There is also specialized management; technical and vocational institutions responsible for human resource development that ensure an immediate availability of skilled and trainable labor force as well as technical and managerial personnel. In addition, there are special international schools, which follow the curricula of some foreign schools examination syllabi. Below are the number of institutions by level and type. Ghana has 10 polytechnics in all regions, several teacher training colleges, nursing training colleges spread all over the country by choice as well as 5 government run universities in the country. These include the Universities of Ghana, Legon, founded in 1948, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi founded in 1961, University of Cape Coast, UCC founded in 1962, University of Education, Winneba, founded in 1992 and the University of Development Studies, Tamale, founded in 1993. There privately funded universities. These are primarily run by religious organizations. As part of efforts to increase literacy rate, in Ghana , which stands at 53%, functional adult literacy programme have been put in place and illiterate adults are taught to read and write in their local languages. Achievement of these programmes was to help them understand government projects, political process by making informed decisions, understand population growth issues, agriculture practices, use of insecticides, improved seedlings, as well as appreciation of technology among other things.

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
History: Formerly known as the Gold Coast because of the abundance of gold, the name was changed to Ghana after attaining independence from British colonial rule on 6 th March 1957.The country is named after one of the ancient Sudanese Empires, which flourished between the 4 th and 10 th centuries. Subsequently, the area was divided among several kingdoms, of which the most important were the Fanti, who occupied the coastal region, and the Ashanti , whose territory was further inland. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in the late 15th century.

During the next 300 years, the Gold Coast became a major trading centre, mainly in gold and slaves. From the beginning of the 19th century, an increasingly assertive Ashanti kingdom drove out many of the European colonists. The important exception was the British who, allied with the rival Fanti kingdom, defeated the Ashanti in 1874 and took control of the whole of the Gold Coast. The Ashanti-controlled interior was subjugated over the next 15 years and converted into protectorates’, locally ruled under British supervision. The colony’s lands were supplemented in 1917 by parts of neighbouring Togoland which was formerly under German control. Together, these formed what in 1957 became the independent state of Ghana – the first British territory in Africa to be decolonised. Three years after independence (1960) Ghana became a Republic with Dr Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) as the first President.

Under Dr Nkrumah, Ghana made rapid and remarkable progress in education, industrial and infrastructure development and in the provision of social services. At the same time, the country played a leading role in international affairs – especially the United Nations and Commonwealth – in the struggle for the liberation of other African countries, most of which were still under colonial rule. However, Nkrumah’s growing dictatorial tendencies at home disaffected many, especially in the armed forces, and in the end it was they who in February 1966 overthrew the CPP Government in a coup led by Colonel Emmanuel Kotoka. One of the most prominent figures in recent Ghanaian politics is Jerry John Rawlings, a former Air Force Flight Lieutenant, who first came to power as the leader of coups in 1979 and 1981. On the political front, President Rawlings and the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) introduced a new constitution in 1992 before submitting themselves to the verdict of the electorate and winning both the presidency and a huge majority of legislature seats. Both Rawlings and the NDC were re-elected in 1996. In December 2000, a closely-fought election pitted Rawlings’ former deputy John Atta Mills, standing for the NDC, against John Agyekum Kufour, leader of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and several minor candidates. The contest was dubbed ‘the battle of the bores’, acknowledging the failure of either main candidate to match the charisma of the outgoing Rawlings. However, charisma is not an essential qualification for governing a country and Kufour won the run-off against Mills and took office at the beginning of 2001. The NPP also replaced the NDC as the largest party in the Ghanaian Parliament.

Government: Ghana practice a multiparty parliamentary democracy based on a constitution. The Fourth Republican constitution, accepted by refendum and came into force in 1992, provides for a unitary state governed by a president (and cabinet ministers) and a unicameral National Assembly. The presidency has a four year term and an incumbent can serve a maximum of two years. The Parliament has 230 seats and is elected for a four year term. The Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice at the apex of the Judiciary constitutes the third arm of Government in Ghana . The legal system is based on common English law, where the courts are bound to develop the notions of fairness to an individual. The constitution also makes provision for continued recognition of traditional Chiefs and customary laws.

Local Government: A decentralized central government administration has been fostered at local government level where there are 10 regional co-coordinating councils, 110 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies which serve to involve grassroots participation in the formation and implementation of government policies and general development of their area of jurisdiction.

Safety & Backup

This is an important part of the service Projects Abroad offers you. Your safety and security is our prime concern – so we have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your placement with peace of mind.

Pre-Departure Advice:

Once you’ve been accepted on to our projects we will send you a pre-departure booklet which includes information about how to apply for a visa, packing lists, and cultural advice about Ghana etc. Our highly experienced Project Manager will contact you once you have applied and are always available to give advice and answer any questions you may have – both before you go and while you are away.

Placement Details:

Before you go you will be allocated your placement details. These include addresses and numbers for your host family, and details regarding your placement and coordinator.

Contact between Staff and Volunteers:

Our staff regularly visit host-families, volunteers, and placements to ensure everything is running smoothly. We maintain a cycle of monitoring all volunteer accommodation and placements. On arrival, our staff will make a final check that your accommodation and arrangements for your placement are acceptable. Again, during the first week we shall be in contact to ensure all is satisfactory. After the first week, volunteers vary in the amount of contact that they need with local staff; however, we actively check on the status of every volunteer weekly – through direct contact or through the host family.

Accommodation:

All accommodation is checked regularly by our staff. Accommodation is only accepted if it is clean, hygienic, and comfortable. We strive to have at least one member of the family be able to speak basic English, and the family will understand GHVs aims. They must also be interested in having an English speaker to stay. Detailed records are kept of every host family, and these are updated after inspection visits. Checks are made before and during volunteers’ stays.

Supervisors:

Each volunteer, regardless of whether on a teaching, medical, conservation, or other placement is allocated a supervisor. The supervisor is not only responsible for enabling volunteers to carry out their work, but also for ensuring that they are happy and assisting them at their placement with any problems or concerns. From your first point of contact with GHV until the time you finish your volunteer program, you will receive dedicated support and service from us. Your GHV Project Manager is directly responsible for making your program arrangements and helping you to prepare for your experience. Once you reach your program destination, our coordinators will become your main point of contact until the day you depart your program.

Meeting on arrival:

We will meet you at the airport (or local place of arrival) unless you request otherwise. We use our own members of staff when possible, but in some cases we may use an approved transfer company to pick volunteers up from the airport. You will be met by someone carrying a GHV sign, who will welcome you with your full name. They will carry some form of identification that you can validate. It is also our responsibility to help you get back to the normal international point of departure at the end of your placement.

Induction:

All volunteers have an induction in Ghana.
A Welcome information Pack with details of the local office and other volunteers, maps, and other useful information (such as banks, doctors, and public transport);

A tour of the area on local transport that you’ll need to use regularly (such as tro-tros in Ghana);

We’ll advise you on local customs and what to expect while you are away and help you feel confident in your new environment.

Health and Insurance:

All of our volunteers are advised to have a comprehensive medical and travel insurance before traveling to Ghana. This includes repatriation for certain cases. If a volunteer falls ill, our Staff we will be on hand to assist with hospital arrangements and insurance liaison, and will, of course, make sure that the patient is comfortable.

Ghana Volunteers Program Cost Affordability

Ghana Volunteers strives hard to keep costs low and offers one of the most affordable volunteer abroad programs. Compare our prices and services to other organizations and you would be surprised to see the difference. By working directly with grass roots organizations in Ghana where our projects are based, we are able to keep our fees low and ensure these go towards meaningful community projects and local employment.

What is included in my Program Fee?

The program fees listed above cover accommodation, food, orientation, transport, and in-country support staff throughout the duration of your volunteer placement. A small amount is also set aside for future program development. When you consider the costs you might incur at a hotel or eating at restaurants, the costs are minimal. Plus, as GHV offers non-profit program fees, you know that every penny of your program fee is going directly to the local organizations and the people you have chosen to support. Our organization is a grassroots organizations, and in most cases we are solely funded by volunteer fees. For us to be able to continue the amazing work we do, volunteer fees and donations are essential. Ultimately, it is a decision of where you would like your money to go… to a hotel, or to a local family? We know which one we’d choosen!

What other expenses will I have to cover?

Volunteers are also responsible for arranging and paying for their own flights, travel insurance, visas and vaccinations (if required), as well as any spending money they may require. We have formed partnerships with some amazing organizations in order to offer discounted rates for flights and insurance so please check our Resources page for information on how to get no-obligation quotes. Just another way GHV is making volunteering in Ghana more affordable!

** All transaction costs pertaining to online, bank or wire transfers are additional to the program fee and must be covered by the volunteer.